A/N Thank you for being so patient.

Act 27

It took what seemed like hours for Aki to regain control, yet Ryosuke still said nothing. Instead they both sat in silence listening to the waves on lake.

"It was five years ago," Aki stated suddenly breaking the silence. "I had just turned sixteen and was just starting to come out to the racing world. I'd already been training with my dad so it didn't take long for me to make a name for myself. Eventually I came across this guy. He was considered the best and he didn't take too kindly to being defeated, especially by a girl. It wasn't until later that I found out the trouble I walked into to." Ryosuke looked at her questioningly. "American street racers don't necessarily gain their power from just racing. The guy I raced also happened to be a drug dealer. It was how he paid for all the modifications on his cars. Those kind of guys, well they get dangerous when they are crossed. He killed a good friend trying to get to me. The random attacks became so bad I came here to get away from it. Kyouichi acted so much like him that it scares me. All the anger and all the fear I thought I had put behind me hit me out of nowhere and I didn't know what to do."

Ryosuke just held her. That was probably what scared her the most – her inability to make a choice. "Well Aki does have some flaws after all," Ryosuke said in mock surprise, "and here I thought you were perfect."

Aki smiled. "You know Ben said the same thing to me once."

"Ben?"

"Just a member of my old team."

"What happened to them?"

"They graduated," Aki said smiling fondly. She glanced at her watch before slowly getting to her feet. "Thanks for staying with me," she said giving Ryosuke a hug. "I should go, by now the rest of the guys will be worried about me."

"Not a problem," Ryosuke said watching as she left. //It was my pleasure.//

*********

Aki groaned and slowly arched her back. It was time to get up. She glanced over to the bed beside her. //Empty. Alex must be awake early for a change. Oh man,// Aki thought as she glimpsed the clock in the corner of her eye. //It's already noon? What happened last night?// Suddenly the memories flooded her mind. //Oh why did I tell him that? Now he probably thinks I'm nothing more than some weak girl.//

"Good you're up," stated Alex entering the room. "I made some breakfast."

Aki sighed. This was why she liked Alex. She mentioned nothing about the previous night trusting Aki to reveal it in her own time. But no matter, she still had to deal with Ryosuke and his team. "Alex I'm stepping up the race against the Redsuns."

"To when?"

"I want it to happen before Friday's pro race. Probably Tuesday or Wednesday."

Alex nodded. "So are you going to issue the challenge?"

Aki thought for a moment. "No, not in person. I'll have Vicky play delivery girl. Mind sending her in for me?"

"No problem," replied Alex leaving the room.

**********

Keisuke was sitting on the hood of his car going over the stats for a prototype engine set to hit the market sometime next year. About half of the Redsuns team surrounded him voicing their own opinions on the subject. They had gathered in the parking lot on the top of Mount Akagi, on the off chance that Ryosuke might join them in their discussion.

"So Keisuke, where is Ryosuke?" asked Hiroshi.

"He was still sleeping when I left this morning. He got in pretty late last night, but he wouldn't tell me anything. I wonder what happened," he mused.

"No one knows, but the rumors about the Dark Horizon's leader is growing. They are even starting to speculate that she isn't human."

Keisuke snorted. "Figures. Those drivers assume anyone who can drive –" Keisuke paused at the sound of a car approaching. A few seconds later, a green blur rounded the bend and came to a stop in front of them. Keisuke quickly recognized it, a Lamborghini Murcielago with the Dark Horizons team sticker in the rear window. The driver door opened to reveal a young woman.

Vicky smiled. She knew she was making quite the entrance. She quickly spotted the blonde Takahashi brother and strolled over to him. "Well I can see why Alex likes you," Vicky said after looking him over.

Keisuke grinned. "And what can I do for you?"

Vicky handed him an envelope. "Well Alex said that if you could get this to your brother without opening it she might have a surprise for you later," Vicky chuckled. "And get your mind out of the gutter, its not that kind of surprise." Keisuke glared at her. "Oh come on. You're a guy, your mind's always in the gutter." With those parting words, Vicky got into her car and raced away.

Keisuke stared at the envelope in his hands, just itching to open it. He sighed. //The faster I get this home, the sooner I'll know what is in it,// he thought. Quickly saying his goodbyes, he jumped into his car and headed home.

Ryosuke heard him running up the stairs minutes later. //I wonder what happened?// Keisuke burst through his door out of breath and shoved an envelope into his hands. Ryosuke quickly looked it over. The only thing written was his name in a neat cursive. Ryosuke raised an eyebrow at his brother.

"One of the twins delivered it to me. Told me to give it to you," he said answering the silent question.

Ryosuke looked inside and pulled out two separate envelopes. He tossed one to Keisuke. "From your girlfriend." Keisuke pounced on it. The Takahashi brothers read their letters in silence.

"So what did Aki have to say?" Keisuke asked.

"She's challenging us to a race this Wednesday. That's strange. Why isn't the race on the weekend?"

Keisuke grinned and held up two tickets. "Cause have tickets to the race this weekend! Do you realize how long its been since I have been to the track? This is going to be great!" Keisuke said excitedly. "Oh I have to tell the guys about this."

Ryosuke chuckled as Keisuke left the room. The girls definitely knew what his brother liked. He looked back down at the letter in his hands. Something seemed off. He reread it various times.

I would like to invite your team to a match with the Dark Horizons this coming Wednesday night at 10pm.

That's when it hit him. "Your team." //So Aki, is not challenging me yet.// He thought disappointedly. //Or maybe she is planning on doing that in person.//

A/N Originally Aki was supposed to be a rape victim but in order to keep the rating low it was changed. And before anyone asks…yes Aki and Ryosuke will race each other but a little closer to the end of the fic. Actually their race will probably be within the last two or three chapters if all works out as planned. Thanks for the reviews everyone.

To be continued.